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<\/p>\nSimilar sized cities in Europe show how poor quality public transport in Bristol is holding back the local economy<\/p>\n
Images released by the West of England Metro Mayor Helen Godwin showing how a mass transit system could look, with trams at Bristol Airport.(Image: WECA)<\/p>\n
Bristol Live readers have expressed strong opinions about why the city’s transport system is lagging behind<\/a>, and what needs to happen moving forward. Many demanded progress on railway connections and the airport, fewer promises and more action, and improved utilisation of existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n Comparing Bristol to similarly-sized European cities highlights how inadequate public transport is hampering the region’s economic growth.<\/p>\n Fewer than half of Bristol residents can reach the city centre within 30 minutes using public transport, while nearly three-quarters can do so in comparable European cities.<\/p>\n Despite 1.2 million people residing across Bristol, South Gloucestershire<\/a>, Bath<\/a> and North East Somerset, the area has no tram network and limited reliable bus services, while local rail services are frequently either prohibitively expensive or too irregular for many would-be passengers.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, two comparable cities with superior transport networks have experienced significantly faster economic growth than the West of England.<\/p>\n In February, the West of England Combined Authority unveiled its latest proposals for developing a mass transit network. The 48-page transport strategy features a map showing possible routes, which might include trams, light rail, guided buses or Metrobus extensions, alongside a computer-generated image depicting a tram at Bristol Airport<\/a>. Work on the initial schemes could commence by 2030. The transport vision states: “Other global regions have demonstrated that a strong transport vision can drive real transformation. The city-regions of Toulouse, France and Malm\u00f6, Sweden are a similar size to the West of England.<\/p>\n “They have both made sustained investment over the past 20-plus years to deliver their transport visions, resulting in much more comprehensive networks than we have today. Their economic performance reflects this vision-led investment, with growth rates significantly higher than we have seen in our region.<\/p>\n “Centre for Cities found that less than 50 per cent of Bristol’s population can access the city centre within 30 minutes by public transport – the European average for similar-sized places is more than 70 per cent. This is a historic failing that holds back our region’s global competitiveness.”<\/p>\n Readers were quick to weigh in with their own proposed solutions. With one reader, Emodando writing: “Bristol Airport needs a rail line branching off from the Weston super Mare<\/a> to Bristol line at Farleigh. and a dual carriageway from the M5 at Clevedon to the Airport. Just get on with it, please!”<\/p>\n Bs3bob comments: “Imagine if all the money that has been spent on studies and consultations over the past few decades was actually spent on public transport.”<\/p>\n Xercesblue12 adds: “The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s record of political leadership shortcomings and poor performance accounts in large part for falling behind other MCAs in government funding priorities, but it should also learn from the European city examples it gives of excellent public transport options- especially around mass transit- to remedy its failings. Installing mass transit on the Continent, for example, is far more economical than in the UK.”<\/p>\n Blackbeard83 says: “Cities with similar landscapes should be looked at. Porto is another city with great public transport. We have money for war but not for the poor. What’s more bizarre is that the airport expansion was approved without public transport improvements.”<\/p>\n Ron Young believes: “It’s not just against European cities that Bristol lags behind in terms of (public) transport. It’s embarrassingly awful when compared with every other major city and even some towns in the UK.”<\/p>\n Othermeinnit states: “We can’t even use the existing unused and underused rail lines effectively. The Portishead<\/a> line could come in by Mshed as it did until the metro bus route was built. Slowing buses to 20mph isn’t going to help either.”<\/p>\n Fisherman19 says: “I’ve lost count of the number of \u2018mass transport\u2019 plans dreamed up by our councils over the last couple of decades; the cost in money must be tremendous. Its obvious by now that Bristol just can not afford it! If our council cannot interest overseas investment, as happened with Brabazon’s village, it just will not happen, so let’s concentrate on immediate necessities. However, there comes a point where studies cost more than the delivery; BCC have consistently crossed that threshold.”<\/p>\n Muttsnuts writes: “Nothing will change because Bristol council has spent all its cash on consultations on god knows how many failed mass transport systems. Oh, and the rest went on building useless cycle lanes, further increasing congestion for other road users.”<\/p>\n Xercesblue12 says: “‘Great public transport’ is necessary not only for ‘the poor’, and welfare spending is forecast to increase by \u00a318 billion by the end of this financial year- with an \u00a39 billion increase in the 2025 budget- so ‘no money for the poor’ is a complete misrepresentation.”<\/p>\n Holbrook1975 comments: “Bristol’s transport problem is that it has been absolutely rubbish for decades and nothing on the horizon apart from roads being closed.”<\/p>\n Bosco thinks: “The existing rail lines could be used to make a proper metropolitan rail system. Currently, it only really works well for the line between Weston Supermare and Bristol Centre and Bath, but the city itself is underused, especially the circle connecting Henbury, Avonmouth<\/a>, Clifton<\/a>, Lawrance Hill, and Filton<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Agedbris says: “As a Bristolian, I have lived & worked in the UK, Belgium) lived in France & now Spain. Why don’t they make it easy for themselves – Put the new connection, along the old A38 or link up the rail that goes that way to Weston Super Mare.”<\/p>\n